Draw table and drive therefor



Feb. 24, 1931. J 1 BRAKE ET AL DRAW TABLE AND DRIVE THEREFOR Filed June l0, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l :L L: l-

INVE N T El 1Q 5- @John L. Drake. 5 Edwin H'Dosn.

ATT DE NEY.

Feb. 24, 1931. J. 1 DRAKE ET Al. 1,793,733

` DRAW TABLE AND DRIVE THEREFOR Filed JunelO, 1925 2 sheets-sheet 2 1 n, sgi in.

'l Ltr- EL .E-IL E21- 7- vINXZEifrm 5- c/om L Dra/fe.

Edwin H. Pos/'n ATTENEY.

Patented Feb. 24, 1931 UNITE-D stares PATENT oFFicE JOHN L. DRAKE AND EDWIN A. ROSIN, OF` TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNORS TO LIBBEY- OWNES-FORD GLASS COMPANY, Ol TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO fDRAW TABLE AND DRIVE THEREFOR Application filed .Tune 10,

lThe present invention relates to sheet glass apparatus, and has particular reterence to a draw-table and driving mechanism therefor.

`An important object of the invention is to provide a draw-table for use in shcctglass apparatus, said draw-table being so constructed that it will present a substantially unbroken surface upon which the sheet may be supported Without injury.

1 vention will become apparent during the v course of the following description.

In the drawings Wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through a portion of a sheet glass drawing apparatus illustrating our improved device in use,

Fig. 2 is a transverse section oi the draw table, the driving mechanism being in'elevation, i l

F 1g. 3 is a fragmentary View oit the driving mechanism,

Fig'. 4 is a top plan View olf the draw-telde,

Fig. 5 is a vertical section through a slightly modiiied form of construction,

Fig. 6 is a perspective of one form ot hnk Which may be used, and

Fig. 7 is a similar view of a slightly modilied form of link.

In the Colburn machine set forth in Colburn Patent 1,248,809, granted December 4f, 1917, a sheet 10 is continuously drawn from a mass of molten glass 11 contained in a draw-pot 12. A suitable liptile 13 and liptile cooler 14 is provided to assist in properly conditioning the glass to permit the sheet to be drawn therefrom` Edge-engaging means 15 are provided to make it possible to draw a sheet continuously from a mass of 1925. Serial No. 36,130.

molten glass Without narrowing at its base. The sheet is initially drawn in the vertical plane after Which it is deflected over a roll 'le and then passed over an idler roll 17. A draw-table is used in combination With the clamp bars 18 to draw the sheet and to flatten the same. The clamp bars 18 are so constructed that they engage or clamp the edges formed by the knurled rolls l5 and are driven by means ol" the sprockets 19. The sheet then permitted to pass through an annealing leer, after which it is cut up into commercial sizes as will be readily understood. The annealing leer and cutting apparatus are not shown in the drawings. The type of drawtable disclosed in the Colburn patent is not entirely satisfactory because of its construction. This draw-table comprises a plurality ot straight sided links pivotally connected, being so connected that a relatively large gap is formed between adjacent links.

The sheet of glass supported upon the draw-table, Which may sometimes be called a iiattening table, is comparatively sott so that it is susceptible to any surface distortion. Being soft, the glass will have a tendency to sag Within the gaps between the ends of adjacent links, thus creating surface irregular ities in the sheet. In addition to the tendency to sag in the gaps, hot gases are permitted to blow up against the sheet forming pulled places. It is common practice 'to control the temperature of the so that the glass will he in u corulition suseeptil'ile to flattening, but not likely to sag in the gaps above referred to. The limits between these two conditions are close, and it is diliicult to control the te1nperature exactly so that oftentimes the sheet will sag in the gaps between the links or become puii'ed by reason of the gases blowing on the sheet.

It is an aim of the present invention to construct a drawstable in a manner that a much hotter sheet of glass can be carried thereby without much danger oif surface imperfections being iormed in the said sheet.

In Fig. l the numeral designates the dra\vtable in its entirety, and it is composed el a plurality et interlocking links so connected as to form an endless belt formation.

Arranged within the loop of the draw-table and adapted to support the draw-table in its upper horizontal run, draw-table rails 2l are provided and are supported upon the beams 22. Y.

The draw-tables used inthe Colburninachinev are driven by sprockets7 the teeth of the sprockets engaging the draw-table inthe "gaps formed' bet'weer'il the links. In the present invention,"because`ofthe construction of the draw-table links, I have provided drums 23 carried upon the shafts-24." The drums 23 are provided with a plurality of flat sides, the width of each sideof 'the drum'be'ing Ysubstantially'the same distance as the space "between the pivot points of the links used in the draw-table. The drum 23 keyedl to the shaft-124 the locking key 25. A roll lil) , adjoining links may contact, while the' space, between the ears 28 ofthe -two Ylinks willV e next row. In other words, the width of the shoulder 3l will be approximately oneshalf the width of the ears 28. rThe ears will be pro-i' used to Contact with the draw-table durl ing its lower run to'keep the draw-table taut.-

As the surface of the links must be highly polished and flat, and as the idler-tightener 26 engages with the sheet engaging surfaces l Aof thelinks, it is preferable thatl the roll be.

formed from some material which will not aifect the polish of saidflinks.

f Fig. 6 shows the type of link used with the drum 23. rI`his link `vcomprises a body portion k27 carrying the ears 28 provided vwith the openings 29. The pivot pins 30 in Fig. 4 are threaded through the openingsw29 in the links. Thefends or ears 28 ofthe links are reduced in width leaving the 'shoulders 3l, so that when the links are Lassembled to forni thedraw-table the adj acent'edgcs 32 Vof be iilledup by the ear' 28' ofthe link in the vided -with the curvedsurface 33 to vpermit the links'to be rocked upon the pins 3() in a manner that they will not'cause the'sheet to be shoved above the horizontal. plane in which vthe upperfsurface of the draw-table is disposed when upon ther rails 2l. `'By using fthe'liuks forme( as shown in Fig. (i. soj that the top and 'bottom will be substantially thef'same width, 'the draw-table will be as ystrong mechanically as the typesliown inthe Colburnp'atent, While atthe' same time there will-be no'large gaps-between links in which'the sheet can sag. Because of' the arrangement of the links as shown in `l`ig.

4, a substantially'unbroken surface will be presented for the sheet to rest upon.

In Figs. 5 and a slightly inodiiied'forni of construction is shown wherein the link 35 is provided with the curved under-sun l face' 36. The druin'37 is provided with the plurality of curved' faces 38, the curved facesl "38 being adaptedto iit in and' engage the lsurfaces 86 on the links. yFig. 'olearly shows the method of driving the draw-table 39 formedfrom-the links having the curved under surface. Although the tei-in flat sided drinn has been used, this is not to be taken literally to means absolutely lat'. V in rother words, the fori'n shown in Fig. '5 is `intended to be included in thisterniinology',"and in fact any' 'form of drum whose periphery is not annular is included. i p Y I l lt is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and' describedl is to be taken' asthe preferred embodiment of the same, and that various changes in the shape-, size and Y'ar-ran,g ,'ement `of parts may resorted to without departing from the spirit ofthe invention or the'sc'ope of the subjuoind of the m'etal in atleasttheltop and Ibottoni walls beingsuch as' to minimize -any tendency toward" warping "'in'*the' "presence of glass working temperatures. ne y Y 2. An' lendless belt table comprising a pluralityof links interconnected *toI form a sub.-

stantially continuous andV unbroken 4plane supporting surface when inhforizontal position',A each link having afbodyportion and reducedv- `'end' Vportions provided with transverse openings, the outside4 surface ofthe 'end' 'portion forming "an 'unbroken' continuation Aof the top surface of the bodylportion,

thebody portionl being undereutacljacent the end portionst-o' receive apart of thecorrespending lend portion' of the' preceding or lfollowinglink, and to provide a substantially thin transverse' end ofthe 1topfsiirface of the 'body' portion7 and a pinlocatedfirisaidopening for holding said links in interconnected position.

3. In sheet glass apparatus',r a'attening table comprising a' pluralityofflinks arranged in transverse' rows, the 'links in one row having portions interlocking with portions of the adjacent'v rows7 thefsupporting surface of each link'beingz arrangediir stag- 'gered relation withl respect to 'longitudinal adjacent links, and lformingy av continuation of at least a 'portion of 'the surface of the longitudinalA adyacent" links, 'ineans passing through"'said'interlocking"portions to 'join saidlrowsv of linksinto' an endless belt formation', a horizontally i disposedtable vsupport 'also arranged within"thelolopv formed` by the links for supporting the r`table diii-ingiits` up- 'per horizontal'rung't and a-'fdruni arranged within the loop v'engagingthe table and friction'ally driving'the saine.

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4. In sheet glass apparatus, a draw table comprising a plurality of links associated withrone another to form a substantially unbroken plane surface, each link being arranged in staggered relation with respect to longitudinal adjacent links, the supporting surface of each link forming a continuation of atleast a portion of the surface of the longitudinal adjacent links, and a drum extend ing transversely the entire Width of the table surface andprovided with a plurality of flat faces extending the entire length thereof and frictionally engaging the table for driving the same. j

5. In sheet glass apparatus, a horizontal support having aplanesupporting surface, a plurality of links arranged in transverse rows and providing a longitudinally extending supporting table, the links in one row having portions interlocking with portions of adjacent rows, each link having its supporting surface substantially the saine distance from the horizontal support as adjacent links, said supporting surfaces of each link being arranged in staggered relation with 'respect to longitudinal adjacent links, the surface of each link forming a continuation of at least a portion of the surface of the longitudinal A adjacent links whereby to provide a substantially continuous and unbroken surface throughout the area of the supporting table, means passing through said interlocking portions to join said rows of links into an endless table formation, and a drum arranged i with a loop formed by the links provided with a plurality of surfaces for engaging the under surface of the links and frictionally driving the same.

Signed at Toledo, in the county of Lucas, and State of Ohio, this 8th day of June, 1925.

JOHN L. DRAKE. EDWIN A. ROSIN. 

